Giant-killer Carlos Alcaraz on his way to modern tennis greatness after Wimbledon 2024 triumph

July 16, 2023. 5th set, the score 5 games to 4 in favor of Alcaraz, with the championship point on the way, there was a sudden rush in the air. Perhaps the tennis fraternity knew a revolution was underway. Fast forward to July 14, 2024, and the revolution is well and truly established. The powerful 21-year-old Carlos Alcaraz etched his name in history, becoming part of the elite group of players who won back-to-back Wimbledon titles. One of the names on that illustrious list was on the opposite side of the final result. And to quote the great Novak Djokovic about Carlos Alcaraz: “Boy, you never give up.”

Alcaraz’s rise to the top of the tennis world was truly fascinating. At just 21 years old, the Spaniard has already won 4 Grand Slams, becoming the youngest to do so. And like another Spanish great before him, Alcaraz’s domain extends across grass, clay and glass. And considering the stature of the players he’s defeated on the way to titles puts into perspective just how good he’s been.

With Roger Federer, it was his technical dominance. Rafael Nadal had pace and strength. Djokovic is relentlessly motivated. Yet somehow Alcaraz feels like the culmination of them all. Extremely composed placement on the line. That never-say-die attitude. There is no room for complacency, even on a single point. This is what sets Alcaraz apart from the rest. And of course, the icing on the cake is his smiling mug at the end of each of his victories.

Alcaraz rose to the top of the game. But that doesn’t mean his young colleagues will make it easy for him to stay there. Over the last 5 years we have seen the likes of Stefanos Tsitsipas, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev and Matteo Berrettini rise to the top and compete with the best of the best. Alcaraz, however, is the youngest of the crop and is probably already the best in every aspect. But it’s fair to say that the stage is set for some fierce tennis in the coming years.